Multi-functional support structure

ABSTRACT

A support structure comprises as image formers, weapons and sighting systems. An image former system is completely practicable by individuals of short stature or limited mobility, especially those in wheelchairs. Ordinary telescope optics and extremely rigid and simplified mechanical structural system allow the imagers incident optical axis to move through 3-dimensional space while the eyepiece image moves in one plane. Elevational rotation of the imager about the eyepiece allows the observer to view 360 degree in elevation without eye movement. A main tube tangential to the objective and parallel to the incident optical axis concentrically receives optical supports which retain the optics. The optical elements may be installed, removed, replaced and cleaned realignment of the optics. The optical support design receives reflective or refractive optics of varying focal lengths; the objective support accommodates cameras without focal adapters. The structural elements may receive ordnance and sighting means.

This Application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/019,900 filed Jan. 9, 2008.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable

FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

Not Applicable

IBR OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

An mechanical support structure comprising image former, weapons systems or sighting systems.

2. Background Art

Imagers suffer several design flaws—lack of accessibility, particularly by those in wheelchairs, eyepiece image moving in two planes and structurally weak designs concealing the optics and their adjustments from reach. Individuals in wheelchairs may occasionally look through an eyepiece, but may not assemble, align, disassemble, clean and transport the device. Imager structures often have poor structural strength therefore poor optical system performance. The stationary eyepiece of U.S. Pat. No. 4,444,474 partially addresses accessibility, but complexity and other issues render it impractical. Our Invention overcomes these long felt needs with a design simple and inexpensive for the unskilled Public to practice. Imagers are often coupled to various weapons systems where the proportion of weapon to imager is large, our imager is inversely proportioned such that the imager is of greater range than the weapons system.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Our support structure may comprise an imager allowing a seated user to view astronomical or terrestrial objects in three -dimensional space while the observer moves only in a horizontal plane. The Invention may be assembled, disassembled, transported and re-assembled without optical re-alignment. The main tube and eyepiece axle create extreme structural strength by using stiff members; the eyepiece axle length shortens the moment from axis of rotation to the objective to reduce main tube bending moments. Main tube deflections may be reduced to zero, allowing perfect alignment of the optics to be achieved and maintained. The support structure is sufficiently rigid to be combined with various weapons and sighting means for target acquisition and firing at great distances. The structural design is simplified such that the Public may calculate, make and use the Invention without advanced engineering mathematics.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a right-front dimetric perspective view. Main tube (1) joins eyepiece axle (2). Objective (3) is received by disc (4) upon objective support (5) which is concentrically received by (1). Diagonal mirror (6) is joined to disc (7) upon diagonal support (8) concentrically received by tube (1). Axle (2) concentrically receives eyepiece tube (9) receiving eyepiece (10); (2) is concentrically received by cross (11) for rotation in a first plane. The lower portion of (11) concentrically receives support leg (12) for rotation in a second plane. The upper portion of (11) receives lift boom (13) which receives lift mechanism (14) which applies tension to lift cable (15) to lift (5).

FIG. 2 is a right side elevational view with (1) rotated a small angle towards the viewer. Tee (16) and counterweight tube (17) replace elements (11), (13), (14) and (15) of FIG. 1. Optical filter (27) may be received onto (9) and counterweight (28) within (17).

FIG. 3 is a right-rear isometric view of objective (3), disc (4) and objective support (5), forks, (18) and (19) and collar (20).

FIG. 4 is a right -front dimetric view of diagonal mirror (6), disc (7) and diagonal support (8), forks, (21) and (22), and collar (23).

FIG. 5 is a right-rear isometric view showing the support of FIG. 3 and including a second set of forks (24) and (25) and second glass disc (26). Disc (4) receives the objective and disc when an eyepiece is used and (26) receives the objective and disc when a camera is used. The objective is not shown for clarity of the forks arrangement.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Mechanical support structures may comprise image formers which are an inseparable combination of mechanical structural systems, optical elements and a some support means to couple the imager to the Earth. Said elements are often combinations of reflective or refractive optical mirrors or lenses, an eyepiece of refractive lenses or a camera. We refer hereafter primarily to Newtonian reflecting optics as practiced in telescopes; our Invention may also comprise a combination of reflecting and refracting telescopes or microscopes. Our support structure may also receive various weapon and sighting systems in combination with an image former.

Telescope support structures usually include a thin, round and elongated outer tube concentric with the incident optical axis and optical elements, and some retaining and adjusting means between optics and outer tube. Outer tubes are elongated cylinders whose length is long compared to its diameter in telescopes up to about 33 cm. (13 in.) diameter. Larger telescopes often abandon the outer tube for a truss design. Outer tubes suffer deflection due to their length; the Cassegrain and other folded designs are compromises in which the smaller flat diagonal mirror of the Newtonian reflector is replaced by a larger hyperbolic mirror which folds the reflected optical axis, allowing use of a shorter outer tube. This method improves structural rigidity of the outer tube, but greatly increases cost and difficulty of alignment, and reduces optical efficiency.

There are two long felt needs in amateur astronomy, the need for highly rigid mechanical structures comparable to those possessed by professional astronomers, and accessibility by handicapped individuals. Our invention solves both needs.

It is difficult to design rigid and lightweight support structures for portable telescopes. Portability is important to amateur astronomers to escape light pollution, and vital to a wheelchair bound individual that cannot lift and transport a large, inseparable telescope. Amateur telescopes often use cardboard outer tubes which are lightweight but with little structural strength. A 250 mm (10 in.) Newtonian reflecting telescope may be approximately 1530 mm. (60 in.) long and difficult for a handicapped individual to transport. An outer tube of 254 mm. (10 in.) diameter Schedule 5 steel pipe would be reasonably rigid, but cause the telescope to weigh more than 36 Kg. (80 lb.), precluding portability. Ordinary telescopes cannot be disassembled, transported, reassembled and cleaned, especially by the handicapped, without loss of optical alignment.

Structural truss supports are often used for large professional telescopes, but the public are unable to practice the engineering calculations for such designs. Truss designs decrease the weight to strength ratio of a structural system by decreasing mechanical supporting mass, but do not necessarily possess great structural rigidity. Bridges are truss designs carrying immense weight with large deflections, an acceptable trade-off as a motor vehicles are insensitive to such deflections. Such deflections are completely intolerable to imaging systems where the precision of alignment is relative to the wavelength of light. The 1-meter diameter Ritchey-Chretien reflector at the US Naval Observatory in Flagstaff, Ariz., weighs 8200 Kg (9 tons), with 330 Kg (660 lbs.) of main and diagonal mirrors, a 26:1 ratio of mechanical to optical element weight. An amateur telescope weighing 27 Kg (60 lbs.) with 7 Kg (15 lbs.) of optical elements has a ratio of about 3:1. It is then obvious that the immense weight of the Naval telescope is devoted to great structural rigidity expected of a professional telescope.

The precision of manufacture of the optical elements such as mirrors and lenses is relative to the wavelength of light. To obtain a clear image at the eyepiece, especially with high degrees of eyepiece magnification, the optics must be precisely manufactured, thereafter the mechanical support must hold the optics in precise alignment. Amateur telescopes do not possess the structural rigidity to either achieve or maintain such alignment, precluding use at high eyepiece magnifications. We wish to overcome these limitations to allow the amateur astronomer to practice a professional structure with great rigidity.

In ordinary telescope designs, the eyepiece is not on the center of rotation of the outer tube, so for every point in azimuth and elevation to which the incident optical axis moves, the eyepiece moves to a new position in azimuth and elevation. The able bodied observer finds such designs uncomfortable for even short periods of observation. The short of stature and handicapped are barred from using such devices as their bodies are restricted in range of motion. One in a wheelchair may move their eye freely in azimuth as a wheelchair and users head may move in azimuth, but may not move the eye in elevation as the body is fixed in the chair, and the chair to the Earth, preventing the eye from following elevational changes in eyepiece position.

In ordinary telescopes, a mounting structure, usually a tripod including a counterweight and manual or robotic positioning mechanisms, couples the telescope to the earth, providing 360 degrees rotation in azimuth, but limited rotation in elevation.

An ordinary Newtonian reflecting telescope may be enclosed in a thin, elongated round outer tube and 250 mm (10 in.) objective. The outer tube diameter must be equal to or greater than the diameter of the objective, or the tube will prevent a portion of the incident light from reaching the mirror, and must be greater than the main mirror outer diameter to receive a main mirror retaining and adjusting mechanism called a mirror cell.

The outer tube length is greater than Eq. 1:

L>FL−(D/2)

where L is outer tube length,

-   FL is the main mirror focal length, and -   D is the diameter of the main mirror

A 1250 mm (50 in.) FL objective requires an outer tube length of greater than 1140 mm (45 in). An 1140 mm long, 250 mm diameter Schedule 5 steel pipe could rigidly support a 250 mm objective, but at 0.23 Kg/cm (15.3 lb/ft), the tube weighs 26 Kg (57 lb) in addition to 5 Kg (11 lb) main mirror. About 26 Kg of steel supporting a 5 Kg objective is an impractical design as much of the tubes deflection caused by its own weight. It is impossible to decrease weight by reducing the outer tube diameter while concentrically receiving the objective, and impossible to reduce tube length as it is primarily a function of objective FL.

Our Invention replaces the outer tube or truss with a main tube of greater thickness and much lesser diameter than the objective, tangential to the objective instead of concentric as in the outer tube design. Our main tube length is shortened in comparison to an ordinary Newtonian telescopes outer tube by placing a larger portion of the FL perpendicular to the objective, where the combination of main tube and axle lengths are approximately equal to the objectives focal length. The axle places more of the reflected axis at right angles to the incident axis, shortening the main tube length and reducing its moment, causing greater rigidity of the main tube. Since our main tube is of small diameter, distortion of the eyepiece image due to vibration from wind loading is eliminated.

The objective in ordinary telescopes is concentrically secured in the outer tube by a cell, which allows adjustment of the position of the main mirror relative to the inner circumference of the tube. A cell is often a complex two piece structural element which the public cannot design, with mounting screws locating and securing the cell inside the main tube, and adjusting screws to cause the reflected axis of the mirror to coincide with the centerline of the outer tube. The location of the adjusting screws radially between the objective centerline and its outer circumference causes their adjustment to effect more angular movement of the mirror per turn than the same screw located at or beyond the mirror circumference, giving a less precise adjustment than the same screw at or beyond the mirror circumference.

Our main tube eliminates the concentric relationship between objective and support structure, eliminating attaching points between cell and tube, requiring the cell to be replaced with other optical support means. Our Invention places a first support point between the main tube and optical element and two additional points 90 degrees removed from the first point either side of the objective creating a plane, perpendicular to the main tube centerline, in which an optical element may be affixed. While many similar points could support the optical element about its circumference, only three are required to support the objective perpendicular to the main tube and allow for adjustment of the optical element position. The support points are embodied in an objective support, concentrically coupled to the main tube, providing a first adjusting means allowing movement of the support points, thus the optical element, in six degrees of freedom with respect to the main tube. The optical support is composed of two forks forming a mounting plane for the optical element and a collar perpendicular to the forks. We realize the optical element in an objective assembly comprising a reflecting objective and glass disc where the objective support forks receive the glass disc and the disc receives the objective.

A diagonal mirror is centered on the coincidence of the reflected optical axis of the objective and eyepiece centerline. We mount the diagonal mirror directly upon a glass disc without interposing adjusting means. The combination of mirror and disc removably affixed to a diagonal support similar to the objective support. The diagonal support is of the same design as the objective support and is adjusted with similar means.

Optical element alignment is usually accomplished by screw mechanisms. Adjustment of objective and diagonal alignment in six degrees of freedom is accomplished between our support and main tube. Since the use of screw points to support the weight of the objective may result in stress concentrations and distortion of the objective, we place the supporting and adjusting points beyond the objective radius. Shims may be incorporated as a second adjusting means in six degrees of freedom at the support points to compensate for slight imperfections in the optical element. Very fine adjustment of the objective or diagonal position may be accomplished by the use of precision shim material between objective and support.

The concentric relationship between the optical supports and main tube allows positioning of the objective along the main tube to accommodate objectives of varying FL. The objective may be initially positioned for use with an eyepiece. Replacement of the eyepiece with a camera, with a different focal arrangement than the eyepiece, requires movement of the objective along the main tube, which is impossible to accomplish by moving the support without destroying objective alignment. To remedy this. In addition to the first forks of the support, a second set of forks on the objective support may receive a second glass disc onto which the objective may be placed for camera use. The objective may be mounted on the first set of forks so its focal length coincides with the eyepiece focal point, or moved to the second set of forks such that the objective focus coincides with the camera focus. Our main tube and support allows the optical elements to be removed and replaced without interference.

Ordinary telescopes are inseparable designs which suffer a total loss of optical alignment upon disassembly. Outer tubes conceal the optics and adjusting means, making optical alignment difficult from a standing position and impossible from a seated position, and making optics cleaning impossible without their removal and loss of alignment. Hours may be required for re-alignment. Our invention is a separable structural design allowing rapid disassembly and reassembly for transport or storage without loss of optical alignment by the features of the supports and main tube as described above. Since the alignment of our imager is inherent in the combination of main tube and supports, removal and re-installation of the optics does not affect the optical alignment.

Our main tube and fork design allows the optics to be cleaned without their removal and loss of alignment. Dust covers may be applied directly to the optical elements instead of only to the ends of an outer tube, reducing the volume of contaminants trapped between the optical element and cover.

In ordinary telescopes, eyepiece centerline is offset from the axis of rotation of the outer tube or truss such that the position of the eyepiece and observers eye must change for every change in position of the telescope. One in a wheelchair cannot use such telescopes as they are unable to move their head vertically to follow vertical movement of the eyepiece. We place the eyepiece concentric with the axis of rotation of the main tube so the eyepiece image remains stationary as the imager rotates through 360 degrees of elevation, allowing a seated observer to observe approximately any point in three-dimensional space while only moving in a horizontal plane, as wheelchair bound individuals are able to do.

Ordinary telescopes secure the eyepiece to the outer tube or truss by means of a focuser mechanism fastened to an outer surface of the outer tube or truss. The objective focus thus approximately coincides with said outer surface at a distance from the diagonal mirror of approximately one-half the objective diameter. The short length of concentricity between eyepiece and focuser allows for significant misalignment of the eyepiece. Our design places the objective focus, thus the eyepiece and its focus, at distance substantially greater than one-half the objective diameter from the diagonal mirror, decreasing main tube length and providing clearance between the main tube and a seated users legs. The eyepiece centerline is held perpendicular to the reflected optical axis of objective by an eyepiece axle, rigidly affixed to the main tube. The reflected optical axis from the objective reflects from the diagonal mirror through the eyepiece axle to the eyepiece.

The eyepiece axle inner diameter is greater than the outer diameter of the eyepiece barrel, usually a maximum of two inches. The actual axle inner diameter is the inner diameter of scheduled pipe with inner diameter greater than the eyepiece barrel outer diameter. The axle length is approximately the distance between the main tube and eyepiece focus. The axle length and diagonal mirror minor diameter are functions of the objective FL and eyepiece outer diameter. The eyepiece axle inner diameter and length are such that the axle inner diameter nearest the diagonal mirror is equal to or greater than the diameter of the circular cross-section of the cone of light reflected from the diagonal mirror at the coincidence of the axle and cone. The axle inner diameter per axle length and the diagonal mirror minor diameter are calculated by Eq. 2:

$D_{1} \geq \frac{XD}{FL}$

where D-sub1 is the axle inner diameter and X is the axle length, or D-sub1 is the diagonal mirror minor diameter and X is the distance from the eyepiece focal point to the diagonal mirror center.

An increase in axle length requires a proportional increase in diagonal mirror minor diameter and axle inner diameter. A larger diagonal mirror provides a larger reflective surface, minimizing the effects of surface defects on the diagonal mirror, at the cost of blocking a slightly larger portion incident light, and increased cost.

The eyepiece centerline must precisely coincide, in two axes, with the reflected axis from the diagonal mirror, or the eyepiece image will be distorted. Eyepieces are usually concentrically received by the telescopes focusing rack through a short eyepiece barrel of an inch or two in length and as a result of mechanical clearances within the focuser mechanism and between the focuser rack and eyepiece barrel, significant axial misalignment of the eyepiece may occur. Our invention includes an eyepiece tube concentric with and of the same or greater length than the eyepiece axle, both substantially longer than one-half the objective diameter. When the eyepiece tube is centered within the eyepiece axle by means of precision machining and/or precision shims, the centerline of the eyepiece tube precisely coincides with the reflected optical axis. Thereafter, the eyepiece may be precisely coupled to the eyepiece tube, preferably by a combination of threads and shoulders, to precisely align the eyepiece centerline upon the the reflected optical axis from the diagonal mirror. The eyepiece tube may also receive a camera instead of an eyepiece.

An optical filter is often used in conjunction with an eyepiece or camera. The filter is usually placed directly on the eyepiece or camera in a manner requiring removal of the eyepiece or camera from the focuser to install and remove the filter. Our eyepiece tube end nearest the diagonal mirror has a combination of thread and shoulder to allow installation and removal of optical filters without disturbing the eyepiece or camera, eliminating the need to adjust eyepiece or camera focus after installation or removal of the filter.

While our invention thus far is an improvement in structural rigidity of the mechanical support system, it does not yet reach the precision approaching that of the optics. If such precision were obtainable, mechanical alignment adjustments could be eliminated. A Newtonian objective can be manufactured to precision of ¼ wavelength of light or greater, on the order of about 200 nm, precision beyond ordinary metal working and joining processes. Machining the main tube and mirror support to such extreme precision is futile due to deflection of the main tube when in any position, except vertical, due to the combined weights of main tube, optics and supports. Said deflection causes misalignment of the objective relative to the eyepiece axis, and is on the order of thousandths of an inch, a very large measure compared to the mirror precision. Main tube deflection when supported as a simple beam with the distributed load of the main tube and point loads of mirror support and mirror is found by Eq. 3 and Eq. 4:

$\delta = {{{\cos \; \theta}}\frac{L^{3}F}{3\; {EI}}}$

for mirror and support weights, and

$\delta = {{{\cos \; \theta}}\frac{L^{3}F}{8\; {EI}}}$

for main tube weight where:

-   δ is deflection, in inches, -   θ is angle of main tube from horizontal, -   L is main tube length, about 800 mm (32 in), -   F is mirror and support weight, or main tube weight, in pounds, -   E is modulus of elasticity of steel, about 1300 Mg (29,000 Ksi) for     steel, -   I is second moment of inertia for the main tube, about 26 cm ̂4     (0.624 in ̂4)

Weights of 6.4 Kg (14 lb) of objective and support, and 4 Kg (9 lb) of main tube of two-inch Schedule 40 pipe cause main tube deflections of about 0.27 mm (0.0105 in) for pipe, and 0.014 mm (0.00054 in) for solid steel. A solid steel main tube would be more rigid and allow more precise alignment of the optics, but increase in weight of 14.1 Kg (31 lb) while yet failing to approach the precision of the optics.

One embodiment of our invention reduces main tube deflection to zero by means of a lift mechanism consisting of a lift point on the objective support, a lift cable with a lift mechanism applying tension to the cable, and a lift tube coupling the force of the main tube weight to the cross, vertical support and mounting plane. The lift tube is a rigid horizontal beam connected to the cross of the vertical support. The main tube, support and optics weights are borne by the lift cable instead of the main tube, reducing the main tube end-load to zero. Since the main tube couples the objective to the eyepiece axle and eyepiece, reducing the main tube end-deflection to zero eliminates misalignment of the objective and eyepiece when the main tube is rotated from vertical to horizontal. Alternately, the lift mechanism may be mounted outside the Invention such as the Earth.

The lift mechanism changes the main tube from a cantilever beam with weights of objective, objective support and distributed main tube weight, to an end-supported beam with distributed weight of the main tube only. In the end supported configuration, deflection is found by Eq. 5:

$\delta = {{{\cos \; \theta}}\frac{5\; L^{3}F}{384\; {EI}}}$

where the maximum main tube deflection is 0.0056 mm (0.00022 in), occurring at the center of the main tube, not at the objective. Said deflection reduces the main tube length, moving the objective to the diagonal, and causes an angular deflection of the center of the main tube, which does not affect the objective. The slight effect of shortening of the main tube, however immaterial, can be cancelled by eyepiece focus adjustment.

Main tube maximum elongation occurs when the main tube is vertical and the main tube bears the objective and support loads in Eq. 6:

$ɛ = {{\frac{PL}{AE}P} = {\frac{W_{t}}{2} + W_{s} + W_{m}}}$

where:

-   ε is main tube elongation, -   P is a function of weight, -   Wt is main tube weight, 4.2 Kg (9.2 lb), -   Ws and Wm are support and objective weight, 6.4 Kg (14 lb), -   L is main tube length, and -   A is main tube cross sectional area, 25.65 mm (1.01 in)     Main tube elongation is calculated as 0.00052 mm (0.0000203 in).     According to Roark's, elongation of a vertically suspended bar is     one-half the expected value, accordingly, we include one-half the     main tube weight.

The variable E, Young's Modulus, is an empirically derived material property constant precise to two decimal places; I is the second moment of inertia based on pipe diameter measured to three decimal places or less. Our calculations show that the lift mechanism design reduces deflections to about 0.00052 mm, which is approximately equal to 700 nm, where the main tube deflection is on the order of the wavelength of light. There is difficulty, however, in accepting these calculated values as accurate. The equations, based on Hooke's Law and E, anticipate significant and measurable deflections where Hooke's is for grossly deformed springs and E is a comparative constant that is a result of elongation testing to catastrophic material failure. Our calculations indicate no deflections of such magnitudes, therefore the deflections are so close to zero that they can neither be accurately calculated or measured with common mechanical apparatus, or are zero. There is basis in advanced physics of mechanics to indicate a zero, but these are beyond the scope of the present discussion. We find that such small deflections must be indirectly measured as a function of alignment of the optics and the degree of magnification possible in the eyepiece where deflection in the main tube is indicated by the change in alignment of the optics when the main tube is arranged as a cantilever beam, with higher deflection, and then an end supported beam, with lower deflection, if measurable at all.

A vertical support system couples the imager to the Earth or some other immovable plane and resists the force of gravity. Ordinarily, the mounting plane is only the Earth. Our mounting structure is composed of a cross and vertical tube. The first portion of the cross concentrically receives the eyepiece axle; the second portion of the cross concentrically receives the first end of the support leg; the second end of the support leg is coupled to Earth or some immovable plane at an angle to Earth. When the vertical support system is coupled to the Earth, the concentric relationship of cross and axle allows imager revolution in elevation about the observers eye and the concentric relationship of cross and vertical support allows cross and imager revolution in azimuth. When mounted to a plane perpendicular to Earth such as the side of a building, the concentric relationship of cross and axle allows imager revolution in azimuth about the observers eye and the concentric relationship of cross and vertical support allows cross and imager revolution in elevation. The vertical support may be rigidly affixed to any plane in any angle with respect to Earth including overhead. When the vertical support is mounted to a plane at some angle to Earth other than perpendicular, both rotational motions are a combination of azimuth and elevation.

An alternate support system replaces the cross and lifting mechanism with a tee and counterweight tube affixed to the eyepiece axle opposite the main tube. The counterweight tube receives a counterweight to offset the mechanical moments of the main tube.

The vertical support leg centerline and plane of elevational rotation of the main tube are separated by a radius determined by the distance between the centerlines of the vertical tube and main tube. Said radius could approach zero but in practice must be sufficient to prevent entrapment of a human hand in the scissors action created when the main tube rotates past the vertical support. The two degrees of freedom of the mounting structure allow the imagers incident optical axis to coincide with any point in three-dimensional space except those within in a columnar space concentric with the vertical tube whose radius is the offset radius. This limitation may be overcome by a slight tilting of the vertical support or in the case of astronomical observation, allowing time for an overhead object to move.

Ordinary telescopes, when for example, moved from a warm room to a cold outdoors, require a warm-up period, often cited to be a half-hour, during which the telescopes eyepiece image may be distorted due to what astronomers perceive as thermal changes in the optical elements. We have tested this theory by observing the thermal time constant of a 250 mm (10 in) Newtonian mirror, and through performance tests of our invention as a whole. Firstly, said mirror, weighing about 5 Kg (11 lb), requires more than three hours to change from 1.1° C. (34° F.) to 18.3° C. (65° F.)., eliminating the objective mirror as the source of the half-hour warm up. It remains that the distortion is caused by mis-alignment of the optics caused when the telescopes weak mechanical structure is subjected to rapid temperature changes.

Ordinary telescopes shake wildly at the slightest force when, for example, attempting to adjust eyepiece focus or using the telescope outdoors in the wind. Our rigid design with a low cross-sectional area eliminates such instability and is not affected by mechanical forces such as introducing a heavy camera in place of the eyepiece or a user, having upper body weakness as may occur in the elderly or neurologically impaired, supporting unsteady hands or upper torso on the vertical support. For the same quality of optics, our design with its greater precision of optical alignment will permit the use of higher magnification eyepieces than less rigid designs. The maximum magnification is then a function of the optics themselves, not the combination of optics and mechanical structure.

Hereto, our Invention has been described as containing Newtonian optical elements. The design of our main tube and supports is such that our Invention may replace the Newtonian objective with a refracting lens, which may be used in conjunction with the diagonal mirror and eyepiece as disclosed above, or the diagonal mirror and plate replaced with an eyepiece or prime focus camera as a refractor. The objective lens may be used without a glass disc.

A preferred embodiment uses Schedule 40 steel pipe to form the main tube and eyepiece axle, welded together to form a precise 90 degree angle. This angle forms the basis for optical alignment and due to the length and strength of the tubes, can be done to great precision. Two optical supports are each composed of a collar of Schedule 40 steel pipe and forks of square steel tubing. Square tubing provides a flat plane to which to mount the glass discs. The optical supports are assembled upon a surface plate. One end of the collar is faced precisely perpendicular to its centerline and placed on the surface plate on which the forks may be assembled perfectly perpendicular to the collar. Since the support has been assembled against an extremely flat surface, misalignment of the forks is minimal, and any remaining flatness errors may be removed by abrasive lapping to avoid point-loading of the glass disc. When the support collar is concentrically engaged with the main tube, the eyepiece axle centerline and flat plane of the forks become perfectly parallel, provided the main tube is perfectly straight. Run-out of the main tube may be compensated for within the clearance between support collars and main tube. When the objective is mounted on its support and eyepiece in its tube, the incident and reflected axis of the main mirror and centerline of the eyepiece are at 90° to each other. It then remains to precisely align the diagonal mirror to the two axes. When the mechanism is precisely aligned, any misalignment may then be a function of errors in the optics.

The cross or tee are constructed of Schedule 40 steel pipe which receives the vertical support also of Scheduled pipe. A thrust bearing between the vertical pipe and cross and plain bearings of the various concentric fits of the cross are common to the mechanical arts. The lower end of the vertical support is coupled to the earth as a horizontal plane as typical for astronomical use, or a vertical plane for terrestrial use.

A glass disc may be either separable from or rigidly adhered to the lower set of forks of the objective support, improving objective support structural rigidity by resisting the bending moments of the support forks caused by objective weight.

The non-reflecting surface of the objective was the reference against which its reflecting surface was ground during manufacture, so it should be precisely flat and perpendicular with respect to the reflected optical axis. When the objective is placed upon the objective glass disc, its reflected axis lies precisely parallel to the centerline of the support collar. The objective is supported by the glass disc; the glass disc is very flat and rigid to support the main mirror without point loading as in a cell design. The disc is typically float glass, which is inherently flat to 4-6 wavelengths but fragile, the disc may be annealed for strength if less flatness is acceptable. The objective is precisely centered within the support forks. A first glass disc and objective is received by the lower forks when the imager is used with an eyepiece whose focus lies within the eyepiece tube. A second glass disc may be removably attached to the upper set of forks of the objective support as an alternate objective mounting plane to extend the objective focus beyond the eyepiece tube when using a camera, eliminating the need for a back-focus adapter. If a refracting lens is used, the glass disc might be abandoned completely, with the refractive objective mounted directly upon the objective support forks.

Some device for securing the objective against the disc and forks prevents the objective from falling as the main tube is rotated through elevation. The objective may be quickly removed from and replaced upon the main support glass disc as it is not adhered to the disc plate or support. The objective may be shimmed at its circumference or across its flat face to accomplish slight adjustment of objective alignment to compensate for manufacturing flaws in the objective.

The diagonal mirror support receives a glass disc, with diagonal mirror adhered thereto, which is secured to the forks by spring clips or other temporary means. The diagonal mirror is permanently adhered to its disc without interposing adjusting means. The diagonal disc is not adhered to the diagonal support to allow removal of the combination of glass disc and diagonal mirror.

Devices such as locating tabs may be used to locate the disc with respect to the forks to act as mechanical alignment stops when reinstalling the disc and diagonal mirror. The diagonal mirror plate may be shimmed at its circumference to accomplish minor adjustment of the diagonal and plate assembly to compensate for errors in diagonal to plate assembly.

The upper portion of the vertical cross is a receptacle to receive the lift tube extending horizontally from the cross of the vertical support. The end of the lift tube has a lift mechanism attached thereto. A lift cable spanning from the lift mechanism to the objective support lifts the combined weights of main tube, supports and optical elements. The lift mechanism may be any mechanical or electro-mechanical device applying tension to the lift cable to act upon the main mirror support to rotate the main tube through rotation from vertical to horizontal.

The eyepiece axle length and location of the vertical support between the eyepiece and main tube allow the enclosure of the eyepiece, vertical support and user within a weatherproof enclosure, while the incident axis, main tube and objective and diagonal optics remain without. This is in contrast to ordinary observing shelters which are ineffective as they only provide weather-proofing when the imaging system is not in use.

Reduction to practice and subsequent tests indicate the goals of the Invention are realized. Seated use of the Invention is not only possible, but very comfortable since the eyepiece makes no vertical motion when the Invention is spherically rotated. The user may adjust the vertical support so the eyepiece is the eye-height when seated. After assembly and alignment of the optical supports without the optics, the Newtonian optical mirrors and eyepiece were installed in about a minute and without further alignment of the optics, a magnification of 208 times revealed two arc-second detail of Saturn's rings. This performance was obtained using common, inexpensive Newtonian optics.

The optics were removed from the supports and placed in protective storage in about a minute. Tests show no eyepiece image distortion due to moving the entire invention from warm indoors to a cold outdoors.

The Invention is not limited to the above disclosed combinations or uses. Due to its great mechanical strength and mobility, we find useful combination with a weapon such as a rifle, handgun or rocket launcher where the combination may fire a projectile at some angle relative to the incident axis. Said weapon may be a separate device coupled to the main or counterweight tubes, or received within the main or counterweight tubes. Such weapons often are used in conjunction with a sighting device such as a rifle scope, where the rifle is substantially larger than the scope. If, for example, the Invention is fitted with Newtonian optics, a laser emitting device may be secured to the non-reflecting side of the objective and the laser beam emitted through a hole in both the objective and diagonal optical elements and proceeding along the incident axis. The eyepiece of the Invention may be used to view a target onto which the laser emission is projected. Since the laser light proceeds through the central hole of the diagonal, it is not reflected onto the eyepiece. The laser may be used in conjunction with said weapon where the sighting device is substantially larger than the rifle, handgun or rocket launcher and could allow for a substantially greater range for said weapon than current combinations. Such a combination inherits the mechanical structural strength of the mechanical support system disclosed herein and ability to acquire, illuminate and fire upon a target in any direction in three dimensional space. Further, Our Invention creates a combination of weapon and sighting devices where the imaging and sighting devices are greater in range than the weapon devices. This is opposite to, for example, a sniper rifle where the weapon range may exceed the range of the relatively small rifle scope. 

1. A support structure comprising an image former in combination with ordnance base, launcher and sighing devices.
 2. The support structure of claim 1 composing an image former receiving unfocused light along an incident axis and forming a real focused image moving in a single plane while the image former moves in three-dimensional space comprising: a main tube parallel to the incident axis, an eyepiece axle affixed perpendicularly to said main tube, an eyepiece tube concentric with the eyepiece axle and receiving an eyepiece in a first end, an objective assembly consisting of objective optical element and glass disc, a diagonal assembly consisting of glass disc and diagonal optical element adhered thereto, an objective support comprising a collar and planar forks semi-annularly disposed about the incident axis with the objective assembly received upon said forks, a diagonal support comprising a collar and planar forks semi-annularly disposed about the incident axis with the diagonal assembly received upon said forks, a first adjusting means varying the concentric relationship between the main tube and each support to effect precise alignment of the support's planar forks in six degrees of freedom relative to the incident axis, causing said planes to embody an optically precise alignment with respect to the incident axis without the optics being present, a second adjusting means varying the optical element position in six degrees of freedom relative to said supports planar forks, said optical elements arranged as an imager after the type of Newton having a certain focal point, a counterforce mechanism comprising a counterweight mechanism consisting of a counterweight tube and counterweight rigidly affixed to the eyepiece axle opposite the main tube to balance the mechanical moments of the main tube, supports and optics, a vertical support system interposing the eyepiece axle and some mounting plane such as Earth having a supporting leg, and tee concentrically receiving the eyepiece axle allowing rotation of the main tube, supports and optics, eyepiece axle, eyepiece tube, eyepiece and counterweight assembly members about the eyepiece axle centerline in a first plane and rotation of said members and cross about the supporting leg centerline in a second plane.
 3. The image former of claim 2 where said objective is of reflective or refractive type.
 4. The image former of claim 2 where the focal length of said objective is approximately equal to the sum of the lengths of said main tube and axle, and the length of said axle is substantially greater than one-half the objective diameter so as to cause the main tube to represent a lesser portion of the objective focal length to reduce the length and deflection of the main tube.
 5. The image former of claim 2 where said axle and eyepiece tube form a concentric combination constraining said eyepiece tube, thus said eyepiece, to movement in two degrees of freedom.
 6. The image former of claim 2 where said eyepiece tube may receive an eyepiece in said first end and an optical filter in a second end, there being substantial distance between the two ends.
 7. The image former of claim 2 where said objective support receives the objective directly without interposing glass disc.
 8. The image former of claim 2 where said objective support embodies a second set of planar forks parallel to said first set of forks forming a second mounting plane for said objective and resulting in a second focal point removed from said first focal point.
 9. The image former of claim 2 where said counterforce mechanism comprises a lift mechanism transferring the mechanical moments of main tube, supports and optics to some relatively immovable object outside the Invention.
 10. The lift mechanism of claim 9 removing said mechanical moments and reducing main tube end deflection to zero, thereby eliminating optical misalignment as the main tube rotates through elevation.
 11. The image former of claim 2 where said vertical support system interposes the eyepiece axle and some mounting plane at an angle to the Earth.
 12. The image former of claim 2 where said main tube and semi-annuli arrangements allow placement of covers directly upon the optical elements.
 13. The image former of claim 2 where said diagonal support receives a prime-focus camera or glass disc and eyepiece upon its planar forks.
 14. Length of eyepiece axle of claim 2 disposing said eyepiece a sufficient distance from said main tube to allow enclosure of the eyepiece and user within a weatherproof shelter while the balance of the Invention remains without.
 15. The support structure of claim 1 comprising an ordnance base receiving a rifle or handgun.
 16. The support structure of claim 1 comprising a movable launcher receiving a rocket launcher.
 17. The image former of claim 2 comprising a sighting device where the objective receives a laser device emitting a laser beam along the incident axis to illuminate a distant target. 